Food for thought! This story has come to our attention via Save our Schools. A businessman's story
Blueberry Story
on how schools cannot be run as businesses as he initially believed and as advocates of markets in education would have it.

The Other Talk is about Australian families talking openly about alcohol and other drugs. It's an initial conversation and an ongoing understanding that when it comes to alcohol and other drugs, no question is too silly and no topic is off limits. The Other Talk

Executive Officer Gail McHardy attended the Bastow Institute this week to learn about PISA (the Programme for International Student Assessment) data from Andreas Schleicher, Special Advisor on Education Policy to the Secretary General and Deputy Director Directorate for Education and Skills at a OECD Dialogue Forum an ANZSOG - a Telstra Initiative via DEECD invitation (thank you to Arthur Townsend, Executive Director, School Leadership, Performance & Policy Division).

Gail said "you cannot argue with the data". Gail hopes that political leaders, decision and policy makers listen to the policy lessons from high performing countries and take heed. This presentation highlighted the need for investing in high quality teaching and the importance of aligning policies and practices in our Australian schools. There is a facebook page for parents interested in PISA so please read and explore!"